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(No Model.) 2 Sheath-Sheet 1. A. S. WEBB.

' DESK. No. 371,012. PatentdO0t.4, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2.

A. S. WEBB.

DESK.

No. 871.012. Patented Oct. 4, 1887.

ATTORNEY N, PEYERS. Phclolilhogmphen washin lon, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

A. STEWART WEBB, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,012, dated October 4, 1887. Application filed January 1'7, 1887. Serial No. 224,548. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, A. STEWART WEBB, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Shoulder-Supported Writing Rest or Table, which invention is fully set forth and illustrated in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is to provide an arm-rest or desk,strong,though light in weight, to be suspended from the shoulder, which rest will enable a person to conveniently write while either sitting, standing, or walking, or even while in a reclining attitude. The same rest will also, of course, serve as a book-rest when it is desired to read instead of write.

The invention consists of the parts and cornbinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective one method of attaching or suspending the rest from the shoulder of the person or wearer. Fig. 2shows in detail, in side elevation, the method of hinging and securing together the table itself and its adjustable suspensory-rod. Fig. 3 shows in perspective and detached, as if in position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, a rear view of the suspensory-rod and its hinged bracket or lug for securing the device to the table. Fig. 4 shows in perspective the table and its attached suspensory device, the latter bifurcated at the pivotal point an, thus forming two hooks instead of one, so as to catch over each shoulder instead of over only one shoulder. Fig. 5 shows in front view the device illustrat-ed in Fig. 4 applied to the person. Fig. 6 shows a rear view, in perspective, of the bifurcated hooked device caught over each shoulder-blade, one of the hooks being also bifurcated, in order to have a bearing-surface of .greater area for pressure upon the back of the wearer.

In said figures the several parts are indicated by letters of reference, as follows: A indicates the table or rest; B, its suspensory-rod, either single or bifurcated; O, guide-tube for rod B,

connected bya rib, c, forming one leaf of a hinge, the other leaf being the part (1. Said leaves are united to form the hinge by the pin p, as in ordinary hinges. The table or rest A is secured to the hinge-leaf d by means of the screws 9, which pass through said leaf and the table, and are tapped into the plate It on the oppositeside of the table A, so that the guidetube 0 and table A are thus securely united by a firm hinge-joint turning upon a center at the pointp. Between the points y y, below the guide-tube G, is a shorter tube or brakecylinder, D,which, though like a severed piece of said tube 0, unlike it, is not fast to the rib a, but has a stop or lug, i, which protrudes at right angles to the axis of the brake-cylinder through a slot in the rib o. By this means the cylinder D is retained in place, the protrusion of its lug t being sufficient to bear against the edge of the back plate, h,when the rod B and table A,respectively,occupy the positions shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Above the guide-tube G and below the cylinder D, respectively, the rod B is provided with stops t t, soldered, pinned, or otherwise secured thereon. Said stops limit the distance which said rod can be moved through the guide-tube O, or, what is the the same thing, the' distance the table A can be slid up and down on said rod.

Referring to Figs. 1, 4, and 5, it will be seen that the table A is curved out on one edge to comfortably fit the shape of the side of the body, or the chest or abdominal region, and in Fig. 4 the pivotal point as is clearly shown 'where two rods, B, are hinged together, form ing a bifurcation, so that they may cross the breast of the body from said pointw and hook over each shoulder by the hooks m m, shown in dotted lines.

In Fig. 6 the hooks m m are shown from the rear of the person fitting over the shoulderblade. Either or both of said hooks may also be bifurcated, like hook mflaud also flattened,

if desired, in order the more comfortably to fit over or upon the shoulder-blade;

The description of the operation of this device will be complete by now additionally stating that when in use suspended from the shoulder or shoulders, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the lug i on the brake-cylinder D is held in forced contact with the back plate, h,which contact clamps the interior surface of the brake-cylinder D hard against the rod B, and the friction due to such enforced contact holds IOC the table at any desired point of elevation be tween the two extremesthe limits of the stops t There is thus provided a light, neat, and elegant portable arnrrest or desk, suitable for a school desk for children, or for the library or study, or for use while reclining on sofa or bed.

The table proper may be made of either plain or of the handsomest woods, and the suspensory parts of either brass, iron, or other metal, very cheap or elegantly and expensively finished or plated.

For convenience and durability, while of neat appearance, no desk of ordinary construction can approach thisinvention in cheap ness of construction. I do not confine myself to the special means shown for uniting and adjusting the table A and rod or rods B, as it is obvious that various means may be employed for a simple sliding motion of the table and clamping it upon the rod B. Nor do I broadly claim as new,per se,a book-support suspended by rods hooked over the shoulders; but,

Having thus fully described my said writ ing rest or table as of my invention, I claim 1. The combination of a table-rest, as A, and a hooked rod, as B, adapted to hook over the shoulder and secured to one side of said rest by asliding clamp, whereby a clear space is left for the arm to use said rest as a writingtable, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a table-rest, as A, and a hooked rod, as B, adapted to hook over the shoulder and adjustably secured to said rest by a sliding hinge-joint, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of a table-rest, as A, a hooked suspensionrod, as B, hinged thereto, and a friction-brake,whereby said table is adjusted upon said rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of a table-rest, as A, a guide-tube, as C, hinged thereto and provided with a hooked suspension-rod, as B, and an automatic friction brake, as D, the whole combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of a table-rest, as A, and a hooked rod, as B, bifurcated, as at w,to support said table in suspension, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. The combination of a table-rest, as A, and a suspension-rod, as B, provided with a bifurcated hooked end, as m, to fit over the shoulder, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

A. STEWART WEBB.

WVitnesses:

P. B. VooRHEEs, W. H. WVooDHULL. 

